September 7, 1896 – The first automobile race was held on a closed-circuit track. The course was at the Narragansett Trotting Park in Cranston, Rhode Island. The race competition itself was won by a driver named A. H. Whiting interestingly enough in an electric car built by the Riker Electric Vehicle Company.
That company was founded by a man named Andrew Riker who created the Company in Brooklyn in 1888. In 1894 he built his first four-wheel car by putting a pair of Remington bicycles together powered by an electric motor.
That year he also began building an electric racer that competed against gasoline cars and proved that the electric car could defeat a combustion engine in a short-span race. The economy of fueling it and the longevity of how long it would run before recharging were issues that engineers 125 years later are still coping with.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
The Championship Games That Changed a League Forever
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/yellow-and-white-trophy-_XTY6lD8jgM Some title games do more than decide who wins. They alter how
Why Golf Shoes Are One of the Most Important Pieces of Golf Equipment
Golf is a game built on balance, control, and consistency. While many players spend
Brief Overview of Women’s Weightlifting History
The first USA Women’s National Championships were held on May 23, 1981, in Waterloo,
The Changing Role of Sports Mascots
Sports history is usually told through championships, box scores, coaches and athletes. Yet another
Remembering Tampa Bay’s First Two Seasons
In 1976 and 1977, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers experienced what is probably the worst
The Evolution of Betting Activity Around Major Sports Events
Sports betting has existed for centuries and has evolved alongside some of the world’s
How The 1996 New York Yankees Shocked Baseball and Saved The Bronx
After winning four American League Pennants and two World Series in six years (1976–1981),
How Sports Betting Changed From Cash Windows to Digital Payouts
For much of the twentieth century, sports betting was tied to physical places and
